Lifting magnet



Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFIJING MAGNET Bernhardt Stahmer, Omaha;, Nebr.

Applicals'ion November 12, 1948, Serial N0. 59,687

1 Claim. 1

This inventio-n relates to 1ifting magnets of the type commonly used to pick up heavy ferrous materia1s.

It is an object of this invention, 110 provide a lifting magnet havin hooks for cooperation with the magnetic units shereof in the lifting cf either ferrous, non-ferrous o1 mixed material.

Another objeco of theinvention resides in the provision of a lifting magnet comprising a plu-- ra1ity of magnetic units disposed side-by-side, each f the units being particularly designed for attachment 110 anal cooperation with others of the units to provide a lifting magnet of great power.

Another objtect of the inventio-n resides in the provision of a1-ifting magnet including a plurality o.f magnetic units and. which is particulafly adapted to have other magneoic unitsadded thereto to increase its po-wer when desirecl.

Still another object of the inventi0n resides in the provisionof a liftin magnet comprising a plurality of magnetic units which are adapted. to be pivotally secured together ior pivotal movements in a sing1e plane and With respect to each other and particularly adapted for defining such piwntal movements in cooperation with hooks employed on end sides of end ones of the units for facilitating the grabbing and lifting of material.

A further obiect of the invention isto provide a magnetic unit as described having outwardly: protruding ears particularly arranged in cooperwtion with the ears of other simi1ar units to provide the above described pivotal connecti'ons. and 170 facilitate the attachment ofhooks thereto.

Yee a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a 1ifi:ing magnet havi=ng separate, magnetic units and further having a conneeting, member of advantag.eous design disposed between central adj acent ones cf said units for connec'sing the same together..

A further object oi the invention is to provide a lifting magnet as descri bed i=nc1mling means: so designed as 110 causethe units comprising; the magnet 120 together define a concave undersid e for extending around. material 1:0 he lifted.

Another object of the invention is 120 provide a device for the purpose described which is-- sturdy and dura-ble in construction, re1iable and efi1cient in operation and relatively simple anc't inexpensive- 120 manufacture, assemble and uailize.

Other and still further ohjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent. from ohe following detai1ed description of a preferred embodiment thereof In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lifting magnet of the invention shown having controlling cables secured thereto upper portions of the controlling cables and of the electrical power supply cab1es being. broken away, an end portion of the housing 015 the magnetic coil cf one of the magnetic unit.s being broken away and ot her portions being shown in cross-section, the units of the magnet shown in Figure 1 being disposed in a relaxed position having the underside of the units Qf the magnet defining a concave curve.

Figure 2. is a side elevation of a connecting member employed.

Figure 3 is a sicle elevation of two spacing members of the invention shown in position securing together two adjacent magnetic units of the invention and. secured to the conneccing -member or p1at.e of Figure 2 the said units and connecting member being shown in dotted Iines.

' Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the mag netic units of the invention, shown with the counecting member of Figure 2 attached, also having other attachment plates shown in position, tvvo hooks of the invention being shown attached to their respective ears, and the lower portion of an eyelet member being shown as secured 130 nenorally disposed ears of the magnetic um't The lifting magnet of this i1'1vention includeg a plurality of magnetic units generally indicated. at In in the drawing. Each magnetic unit I0 is preferably of an oval shape as best shown in Figure 4, and includes an outer casing I2 which is preferably of oval shape.

The casings I2 are each provided with an oval recess M therein entering from the lower side thereof. The recess 14 is for the purposeof receiving a magnetic 0011 Hi as later described.

The upper side 02 each casing I-2 is provided with a coil I8 therein Which is disposed between those housing portions Which form ehe innen sids of the recesses I4.

The coil l6 may be composed of any suitable qua1ity of wire and may be disposed in several sections; each section being separated-by insulating partitions 20 from an adjacent 1ower and upper section. The lower side of the casings 12 is covered by a suitable fire-resistant material 24 which 1atter forms a p1ate covering the unter side of each housing I2.

The platte 24 is provided with an oval shaped opening 26 there.to throughwhich magnetic force may acta upon material to be 1ifted. The lower platze 24 is heldthe housing I2 by means of suitable= bo1ts. Above the opening 26. a suitable,

CJI

comprise a pair are closely spaced apart and are rigidly secured to the housing I2.

The ears 36 are all provided with apertures fr receiving bolts 40. The holt apertures in those ears 36 which are disposed an one sich: of the housing I2 are all disposed in alignment with those other holt apertures which are dispqsed an the same side as the housing I 2.

The ears 35 are each provided with two spaced apart apertures for the purpose of receiving bo1ts 40. The apertures in each ear 36 are disposed in a 1ine preferably at a, right angle with respect to the underside of the units I and extending upwardly therefrom.

A connecting member 50 is provic'led in the invention as best shown in Figure 2. The connecting member 50 is preferably provided with five disposed magnetic units I0. The connecting members are rigidly secured by means of Tour bo1ts I6 to the walls of those apertures 56 of the connecting member 50 Which are on the sides 52 and 54 respectively thereof.

The unter ends of the spacing members 10 are each connected at their uppermost outer apartures 12 120 the uppermost respective apertures 013 .ohe center pair of ears on the oppositely disposed sides of the two side-by-sidie magnetic units I0, as hast shown in .Figure 3.

The outer lower apertures 12 cf the spacing inembers I0 are preferably not bolted, so that the ui1its I0 are free to swing upwardly, laut not dowm wardly, with respect 130 a, spacing member III.

When two of the magnetic units I0 are hooked togetsher as shown in Figure 1, they are caused to swing er pivot with respect to each other by 'means of any suitable power 1ifting arrangement,

sides, at least two spaced apart ones 52 and 54 of the sides are disposed at an inclination to each other for a purpose later described.

The connecting member 50 is provided preierably with five apertures 56 therethrough, each disposed closely spaced inwardly from the five corners of the connecting member 50. The sides 52 and 54 each have two of the apertures 56 disposed in a 1ine in parallelism therewith.

The purpose of the connecting plate 50 is to secure two adjacent ones of the magnetic units I0 together. For such purpose the connecting plate 50 is disposed between those ears 36 of the cen 11er pairs of ears on adjacent sides of two magnetic units I0 which are disposed alongside each other. Bolts a.re disposed through those apartures 56 which are on the upper er more spaced apart ends of the sides 52 and 54. The same bolts 40 are a1: the same time disposed through the uppermost aperture in the said center pair of ears. When coupled together in I;his fashion the magnetic units I0 will be free to pivot upwardly towa.rd either side of the connecting member however, they will be prevented from pivoting excessively in downward direction toward each other. In other words, they will be maintained in rast position, as is shown in Figure 1, with the undersides of the two magnetic units disposed at an acute angle With respect 00 each other.

The uppermost aperture 56 of the member 50 is employed for the purpose of retaining a holt 60 for securing the connecting member 50 to a U-coupling 62. The Iatter may be secured by a cab1e c1amp 64 to a cable 66.

If 115 should be desired to space Ehe magnetic units further apart than they are shown in Figure 1, suita-ble spacing members 10 are provided by the invention, as hast shown in Figure 3. The spacing members 70 are each preferably of a rectangular shape having apertures 12 in I;he four corners thereof, the said apertures themselves being disposed in the form of a rectangle.

Two of I:he spacing members 70 can be disposed intrconnecting the central pairs of ears on the opposing sides of two side-by-side magnetic units I0. The spacing members III are placed between the connecting me'mber 50 and the oppositely not shown. The latter can be attached to two cables as shown in Figure 1, the latter each extending downwardly to suitable double-eye members 62.

The members 82 are themselves secured by means of bolts 40 to those center pairs cf ears 36 which are disposed upon the outer sides of the two magnetic units I0.

A pair of hooks are provided on each end o! the outer side of each 0f the two units I0 ar shown in Figure 1. The hooks 90 are elongatea members having their upper ends secured by suitable bolts 40 to those end pairs of ears 36 which are on the outermost sides of I;he units I0.

The hook members 00 extend downwardly and terminate preferably in pointed secions 92 which 1atter point inwardly toward each other when the magnetic units I0 are in operating position as shown in Figure 1.

In operation, t;he lifting magnet cf the invention is as shown in the position of Figure 1 a1: a. time when it is descending upon material to be lifted. The operator will then permit the device to spread out around the material; the two magnetic units I0 moving upwardly about the cannecting member 50.

At such time the material 130 be lifted, if iI; is ferrous, Will be drawn so and upheld by the magnetic coil I 4. If the material is not ferrous it will be upheld by the hooks 90. If the material is a mixture of partly ferrous and partly nonferrous piec es the ferrous pieces will tend pinch between them certain of the non-ferrous pieces as the ferrous pieces are drawn toward the magnetic coi1s I4.

It will be seen that as many of the magnetic units I0 as are desired can be coup1ed together by connecting pieces o1 spacing members I0 and disposed side-by-side 00 give a magnet of more pulling power. With such an arrangement the hooks 90 Will be disposed on the outerside of the outermost of the magnetic units I0.

This invention has provided a Iifting magnet having h00ks for cooperation With the magnetic units thereof for more efficient operation, a. 1ifting magnet the power cf which may be easily varied and a lifting magnet Which includes a connecting member of particular design for coutrolling the position 0f the magnet preparatory to grabbing objects to be lifted, and an artic1e of manufacture eomprising a magnetic unit cf superior construction.

From the fnregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a lifting magnet constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly adapted for use by reason of the convenience und facility with which it may be assembled a.nd operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention 15 susceptible cf some change and modification including variations in the Shape and size of the 13arts without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish bo be understood as limiting myself 1:0 the precise arrangement and formation cf the several parpbs herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice. except as claimed.

I claiin:

A lifting: magnet comprising: a plurality 01 magnetic units disposed side-by-side, said magnetia units'each having a substantially fiat. werkengaging s-urface; two pairs of ears one pair secured to anal protruding outwardly from adjacent sides cf each 01 said units, the ears of a. pair being spaced apart with respect to each other, sai'd ears having apertures therethrough extending in parallelism with said surface; a. connecting member disposed between the ears of both of said adjacent units, said connecting member having two opposite side surfaces in- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,047,954 Krohne Dec. 24, 1912 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 307,930 Germany Sept. 25, 1918 308,128 Germany Oct. 1, 1918 188,832 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1922 

